We procure ghee only through e-tenders, says Tirumala temple board

Tirupati, Aug 1:  Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) has denied that it is not allowing the Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF) to supply ghee for Tirumala Venkateswara temple under the brand name Nandini.

TTD executive officer Dharma Reddy said there was no truth in the allegations that the TTD was not allowing KMF to supply ghee.

TTD, which manages the affairs of Tirumala Venkateswara temple, clarified that it procures ghee and other essential commodities only through e-tender and not on the basis of nomination.

“We would like to clarify that TTD procures all the items required including ghee through the e-tender process by floating the tenders inviting the eligible suppliers from all over India. Since it's an e-tender until we open, we don't know the participants," Dharma Reddy said.

He was reacting to a statement by KMF president Bheema Naik that the KMF decided to skip the tender process for the supply of ghee as it cannot provide ghee at a competitive rate.

KMF Managing Director Jagadish said that their ghee rate is fixed but in the e-procurement, whoever quotes the lowest rate get the tender.

He said KMF told TTD that it will supply ghee at its rate but TTD refused to give that amount.

Stating that the KMF is an institution that ran for the farmers’ benefits, he said offering low prices is not feasible as it results in a loss.

The TTD official, however, pointed out that KMF had been supplying ghee to TTD for the last 20 years. He clarified that the procurement was being made through e-tenders. Since TTD is a government organisation, the contract is awarded to the lowest bidder as per the tender conditions and procedures, he added.

The temple authorities had been using Nandini ghee for making famous Tirupati laddus.